Paddle Anatomy

Mar 11, 2014 |

The anatomy of a paddle is pretty simple really. There’s only a few terms to learn. Shafts are usually made in two halves which are “scarved” together and made of three pieces each. “Plated shafts” have a lighter duty core- like spruce or sassafras, and then tough “plates”- usually of ash. It’s a tough, ding-resistant combination. “Stringer shafts” have a thin spline of ash in the middle and then sides of lighter wood- like fir or spruce. These are lighter and whippier but more prone to dings and catastrophic failure. So Stringer shafts are more like a light, whippy indulgence for light duty uses.

The blades usually feature an “Edging” and “Tip” around the outside to buffer the blade from rock bites. Just inside the edging is the outermost blade strip- the “Bang Strip”. Bang strips support the edging whereas a lighter wood here could collapse under impact with rocks.

Next to the shaft in the center of the blade are the “Fairing Strips”~ they help “fair” the shape of the shaft into the shape of the blade. Between the Fairings and the Bang strips are the “Blade ” pieces and they are usually a light filler wood- like Black Willow.

There are thin wood veneers across the tips to help slow tip wear and resist splitting. That’s the basics!